Iran to build first small oil refinery in Golestan Province

Press TV -(Fri Mar 29, 2013) Head of Iran’s Oil Products Exporters Union says the Islamic Republic is planning to build its first small oil refinery in the northeastern province of Golestan.

“For the time being, we are carrying out studies to locate this refinery, and the preliminary studies suggest we will be able to build the first small refinery with a capacity of 10,000 barrels [of crude per day],” Hassan Khosrojerdi said Friday.Khosrojerdi added that the facility, which could be enhanced to a capacity of 20,000 barrels a day, would make a remarkable contribution to Iranian exports of oil products and help the country reduce its dependence on crude sales.Experts have suggested Golestan’s Khajeh-Nafas Port for the location of the refinery, which will be fed by crude from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), he added.The official stated that the use of CIS oil is aimed at reviving crude swap between Iran and Central Asia.